Typographical machine.



J. R. ROGERS.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm m4. I3; I915.

Patented Apr. 27, 1315.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN B. ROGERS, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINOTUPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION 6F YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed January 13, 1915. Serial No. 1,898.

'To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN R. Houses, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of; New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Iypographicai Machines, of which the following a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to typographical machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 436,532, to O. Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order inwhich their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the

- through distributingcomposed line transferred to the face of a 'mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype againstthe matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices. thereafter returned mechanism to the magazine from whic they started.

More particularly, it relates,to the dis, tributing mechanism and specifically to the formation of the conveyor screws whic r move the ma vices along the ribbed or per muted distri uter bar.

In the ordinary construction of linotype mac; ines, t he distributer rail or bar is'comjig no ed with a series of distributing com.-

inations 'of equal extent, ft) release the correspondingly toothedv matrices at certain definite] points, and the threaded conveying screws "are, correspondingly formed with a number of convolutio'ns equal to that of the combinations on the b is 1111 otherv Words, the pitch (if the screw s equal to the length of the combinations. As a result f this arrangement,"ant l-,a' s the machines ave been developed, certa1n ence when released. Again, when it is wished to increase the jspeed, of distribution, it has been necessary to mcreasethe rotational rate ofthe'screws. and sometimes to an undesirable extent. My improved construct1on and arrangement entirely obviate these re uirements.

Jenerally speaking, I propose to vary the pitch of the screws relatively to the rail, so that the number of convolutions thereof is less than that of the distributing combina tions on the rail. By this arrangement the matrices are transported along the rail at a greater distance from each other, and more time is permitted them to drop, thus obviating the danger of interference, and as a consequence dispensing with. the necessity of feeding the matrices to alternate convolutions. In addition, a high speed of distribution is secured without the necessity for increasing the rotational rate 0*' the screws. Again, and due to the increased angularity and the form of the groove, the latter closely embraces the projecting ears of the traveling matrices, and thusprevents them from swinging or tilting as they travel,

along the bar; and further, the increased Width of the thread on the lower screw en-,

it to contact with the upper ears-of the falling matrices, and to serve as a guide whereby they are properly positioned in enand by way of example, and as applied to the ordinary style of ii )type machine. However, many changes an variations may be made therein, and in its mode of application, which will still be comprised Within its spirit. Further, it maybe adapted to other forms of typographical machines, such/as typesetters, typecasters and the like, which eo handle type or dies, instead of matrices. Generally speaking, I desire it to be undrstood that I do not limit myself to my specific form or embodiment, except in far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawin Figure 1 i is a rear view, partly broken-away, of a pot tion of the distributing mocha, ism of a linotype machine, having my invention applied thereto; and Fig. 2/ is ,atransverse vertical section thereof.

The matricesX are as usua; ,rlclivered one by one to the distributer'bar' or rail A and conveying scre'a: B by the reciprocating finger C, and as they pass along the bar they are released therefrom at the proper points and pass downwardly into the channel entrance D, and thence to the magazine (not shown). It "will be noted that three screws B are employed, two being arranged to engage the upper ears of the matrices at opposite sides thereof, and the third to engage the lower ears projectingfrom one side thereof. So far as described, the parts are or may be of the usual form and mode of operation, which, except as hereinafter specified, constitute no part of my present invention.

As previously stated, in the ordinary construction of linotype machine, the number of distributing combinations A on the bar A is the same as the number of convolutions on the screws B. In the present instance, I construct the screws B with a smaller number of convolutions, in the specific example shown, only half as many as the number of combinations upon the bar. It will be noted that the pitch of the groove B upon each screw is twice that formerly employed, say one-half inch, whereas the length of the combination A on the bar remains the same, say one-quarter inch. The relation of the extent of the combinations to the pitch of the screw is graphically indicated by the diagrams a and b respectively in Fig. 1. It will be noted that this arrangement materially increases both the distance between successive matrices as well as the speed of distribution, with the results and advantages previously indicated. It will also be observed that the increased angularity and the form of the groove B brings its sides into more intimate relation to the ears X of the matrices, in fact so as to embrace them closely, with the attendant advantage that the matrices are thereby prevented from swinging or tilting throughout their travel along the bar. It will also be seen that the width of the thread B is ma 'teriallv increased, in such manner that the thread on the lower screw now serves to contact with the upper ears of the falling matrices (Fig. 2), and so as to guide or tilt the latter into proper position to enter the magazine entrance D.

As previously stated, I have shown my invention only in referred form and by way of example, and as applied to a specific kind of machine, but obviously many modifications and alterations therein, and in its mode of adaptation, will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, Without departure from its scope.

.Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States-is as follows:

1. Distributing mechanism for typographical machines comprising a distributer bar formed with a series of distributing-eombinations, and rotating screws for conveying the type or matrices along the bar the number of convolutions of each of screws being greater than the distance between adjacent releasing-points on the bar, for the purpose described.

3. Distributing mechanism for typographical machines comprising a conveying screw having its thread of greater width throughout than that of its groove, for the purpose described.

4. Distributing mechanism for typographical machines comprising a distributer bar along which the type or matrices travel, and a conveying screw having a spiral groove wherein the projecting ears of the type or matrices engage, the said groove ha ing its opposite walls arranged in such proximity throughout as to embrace closely the projecting ears of the type ormatrices; whereby the latter are prevented from swinging or tilting throughout their travel along the bar.

5. Distributing mechanism for typographical machines comprising a distributer bar along which the type or matrices travel, and a conveying screw having a spiral groove wherein the projecting ears of the type or matrices engage, the said groove being of such form and angularity through out as to embrace closely the projecting ears of the type or matrices; whereby the latter are prevented from swinging or tilting throughout their travel along the bar.

6. Distributing mechanism for typegraphical machines comprising a distributer bar along which the type or matrices travel, and three conveying screws for carrying them therealong, two of said screws being arranged to engage the upper ears of the type or matrices projecting from their opposite edges, and the third screw arranged to engage the lower ears projecting from one of their edges, the spiral groove of gash of said screws being of such width as dt'o embrace closely the respective ears of the type or matrices; whereby the latter are 7. Distributing vmechanism for typographical machines comprising a distrib uter bar, and a conveying screw to engage In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my the'lower prQ ecting ears of the type or matsignature in presence of two witnesses.

rims, the said screw having its thread of JOHN R. ROGERS. such width as to contact with the upper Witnesses: 6 ears of the type or matrices as they drop DAVID S. KENNEDY,

from the bar and thus guide them thereby. ALFRED W. F. GUEST. 

